Writing instrument



Dec. 9, R J. RIZZO WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 2s. 1955 ROSARIO J.RIZZO ATTORNEY United States Patent WRITING INSTRUMENT ApplicationFebruary 28, 1955, Serial No. 490,739

Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

This invention relates to writing instruments and more particularly tothose wherein the writing point is extended and retracted from itswriting position by the op eration of a push button.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrumenthaving a writing cartridge and point which may be positively propelledfrom the instrument and retracted thereinto by the operation of a novelpush button device. A

Another object of the invention is to provide a writing instrumentwherein the writing cartridge is movable to a iirst position in whichthe same is positively held extended from said instrument for writingand to a second position in which it is positively held withdrawn intothe instrument. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a push button mechanismincluding novel means for positively positioning and writing cartridgein either the first or second positions. To this extent a feature of theinvention resides in the unique operation of the novel cartridgepositioning means.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures andarrangements hereinaftermore fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevational View of the writing instrumentco-nstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and withthe cartridge and writing point withdrawn into the instrument.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 with the cartridge and writing pointbeing positioned in their extended position by the operation of the pushbutton.

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 wherein the cartridge andwriting point are held extended and the push button is in its normalinoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of Fig. 1 taken along lines 4 4.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of Fig. l taken along lines 5 5.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along lines 6--6, and Fig. 7is a view of a modified push button.

Referring now to the drawings, the writing instrument 10 comprises alower sleeve 12 and an axially contiguous upper sleeve 14. The sleeves12 and 14 are threadedly secured together at 16 and a cover 18 extendsabout the upper sleeve 14 and is secured to the lower sleeve 12 at itslower Vend in an undercut 20 (see Figs. l and 2).

The upper sleeve'14 has a bifurcated upper end portion defining thebifurcations 22 and 24. The space or slot (not numbered) defined betweenthe bifurcations 22 and 24 has a definite function which will becomeobvious as the description proceeds. Dened axially in and centrally ofthe sleeve 14 and at the upper ends of the bifurcations 22 and 24 is asubstantially oval-shaped opening 26. Axially below the ovalshapedopening 26 the sleeve 14 has an enlarged hollow interior 28 also sub-Vsftantially oval-shaped and better `seen in Fig. 6. Included ice in theinterior 28 is a laterally offset circular guide opening 29 (Figs. 1, 2,3 and 6) having at its top the first of 4 two abutments or shoulders 30and 32.

The shoulders 30 Vand 32 are each laterally offset on opposite sides ofthe center of the sleeve 14 and axially spaced from eac'h other withinthe interior 28. The shoulder 39 is positioned at the top of the offsetguide opening 29 and axially higher than the shoulder 32 which has ahook edge 33 (Figs. l, 3 and 6). Each of the shoulders 30 and 32cooperates with an axially extendable and retractable cartridge `34having a writing point 36. In Fig. l the cartridge 34 is shown retractedwithin the writing instrument 10 and with the writing point 36 thereofwithdrawn into the body of the lower sleeve 12. In Fig. 2 the samecartridge 34 is shown in its propelled or extended position with thepoint 36 thereof axially beyond the end of the lower sleeve 12. When thecartridge 34 is moved to either one of the two aforementioned positionsby a structure to be described it is positively retained in suchpositions by the cooperation of a iiared edge 38 at the upper portion ofthe cartridge which forms a catch adapted to engage the shoulder 30 or32 respectively.

The writing cartridge 34 is moved to and from its writing position by anovel push-button struc-ture at the topV of the instrument 10, generallyidentified by the numeral 40. The structure 40 comprises alinger-operatedv button 42 which extends beyond the top of theinstrument 1t) through an opening (not numbered) in the cover 18. Thebutton 42, bifurcated at its lower portion, has a substantiallyoval-shaped outer periphery slightly smaller than the oval opening 26 inthe sleeve 14 to guidingly admit the button 42 therein. The cooperatingoval opening 26 and the oval shape of the button 42 allow axial relativemovements between the button and sleeve 14, but at the saine timeeliminate any tendency of relative rotation therebetween.

In a slot 44 defined between the bifurcations of the button 42 there ispositioned a laterally pivotable tongue 46 having a shoulder 48 thereon.When the tongue 46 is positioned between the bifurcations of the button42, the laterally spaced shoulders 48 thereof are axially aligned inheight with a peripheral shoulder 50 (see Figs. 2 and 4) of the button42. The tongue shown in the embodiment in Figs. l to 6 has cast integraltherewith, and ou opposite sides thereof, trunnions 52 at the same levelwith shoulders'St). Said trunnions 52 ride in opposed, but facing axialgrooves 54 in the inner faces of the bifurcations of the button 42. Thegrooves 54 are best seen in Fig. 4. Although the trunnions 52 are freelyand axially slidable in the grooves 54, the tongue 46 is retainedcentrally in position in the slot 44 of the button 42 by alight spring56 which is seated on a peripheral upper shoulder S8 of the sleeve 14 atits one end and against the shoulders 48 and 50 of the tongue and buttonrespectively. Hence, the light spring 56 constantly retains the tonguewithin the slot 44 of the button 42 and urges the button 42 into itsextended position as is shown in Figs. l and 4.

From the drawings it will be noted that the pivot, namely the trunnions52, of the tongue 46 is positioned centrally of the button 42, and atthe same time is permitted lateral movement relative to the button 42 byway of the slot 44 and also the slot in the sleeve 14. The manner andpurpose of the lateral pivotal movement of the tongue will becomeobvious as the description proceeds. However, along the lower surface ofthe tongue there is pro' vided a cartridge-engaging means in the form ofshoulderdening notches 60 and 62, each of which is laterally oit-- seton opposite sides of the center of the button 42. the lower portion ofthe cartridge 34 there is provided a detent means 64 which serves as ashoulder for one end of a spring 66, while the other end of the springbears against a shoulder 68 at the lower portion of the sleeve 12. Thespring 66 is substantially stronger than the upper spring 56 to apply aconstant urging but yielding force on the cartridge 34 to urge thecartridge into engagement with either one of the two shoulders 3ft vand32.

Under normal conditions and when Vthe instrument is not in use thecartridge 34 will be retracted into the body of the instrument and thepoint 36 withdrawn within the confines of the sleeve 12. The flared part38 of the cartridge 34 will be positioned in the opening 29 and inabutment with the axially upper and laterally offset shoulder 3Q andyieldingly retained thereagainst oy the relatively strong spring 6oacting upon the lower end thereof. rl`he push-button actuating structure40 will be yieldingly extended beyond the upper end of the instrument bythe spring 56 acting thereupon.

To propel the writing point 36 beyond the lower end ofthe sleeve 12, thebutton 42 is manually depressed against the pressure of the spring 56.The bifurcated oval portion of the button will slide axially in and beguided by the mating oval opening 26 in the sleeve 14 with the tongue 46depending downwardly and yieldingly held centrally of the button by thespring 56. Continued manual depression of the button brings the offsetcartridge-engaging notch 60 into alignment with the flared edge 3S andsubsequently into cooperating engagement therewith. Further downwardpressure exerted on the button 42 overcomes the relatively strongerlower spring 66 to move the cartridge 34 down along the walls of theoffset, slightly larger guiding opening 29 until the flare 33 passesaxially below the walls of the opening and the hook edge 33 of shoulder32.

Because the point of engagement between the cartridge flare 33 and thenotch 66 of the tongue 46 are offset to the right of the center of thebutton 42 and the pivot 52, forces exerted on the tongue by thecartridge are directed laterally to cause the tongue to pivot laterallyin the enlarged opening 2S until the cartridge is moved against theopposite wall of the opening and positioned directly under the shoulder32. Continued downward depression of the button 42 is halted by thetouching of a shoulder 51 (Figs. l, 2 and 3) on the button 42 with thetop of the sleeve 14. When the button is released the cartridge 34 isurged into secure engagement with the shoulder 32 by the combination ofthe spring 66 and the hook edge 33 (see Fig. 3).

To remove the cartridge 34 from its extended writing position it isnecessary to disengage the flared portion 33 thereof from the axiallylower shoulder 32 and place the same in engagement with the uppershoulder 3th. Quite obviously the button 42 will be in its extendedposition beyond vthe head of instrument l@ while the tongue 46 isyieldingly retained in its depending position centrally of the button.Depressing the button 42 brings the notch 62 of the tongue 46 inalignment with the free portion of the ilare 33, viz., the portion whichis free from engagement with the shoulder 32. Continued dof'nwardmovement of the button 42 engages the notch 62 with the flare 33 to movethe cartridge 34 axially and still further beyond the end of the sleeve12. The axial movement of the button structure 4l) and the cartridge ishalted by the touching of the shoulder 51 with the sleeve 14.

In the meanwhile, as soon as the flared portion 33 is moved axiallybelow the hook 33 the tongue is caused to pivot in the slot 44 of thebutton 42 and in the coextensive slot in the sleeve 14 by lateral forcesexerted shoulder 39 by the spring 66 and the actuating structure 40 isreturned to its normal extended position by the spring 56 whichsimultaneously restores the tongue 46 to a central position.

Fig. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the actuating push-buttonstructure disclosed in Figs. l to 6 and'is identified by the numeral140. The actuating push-button structure is almost exactly thesame asthat previously described except, however, that the pivot pin 152replaces the ball-shaped trunnions 52 on the tongue 46 and thecooperating grooves 54 on the button 42. 1t will be noted that the pin152 extends between the bifurcations of the button 142 and the tongue146 is freely pivotable in the slot 144. It will be clear that theinstant modified structure 140 operates in exactly the same manner asthe previously described button structure 4).

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to severalpreferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of thedevices illustrated and in their operations may he made by those skilledin the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It isthe intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scopeof the claims appended hereto.

Although the part 38 has been described as flared such construction isnot controlling since it is within the contemplation of the inventionthat the shoulder-engaging catch portion 38 of the cartridge 34 need notbe ared at all.

What I claim is:

l. In a writing instrument, in combination, a bifurcated button having asubstantially oval-shaped periphery, a bifurcated sleeve having asubstantially ovalshaped opening axially thereof and slidably receivingthe furcations of said button longitudinally thereof, said sleeve havingan enlarged hollow interior having defined therein two axially spacedshoulders each laterally offset from and on either side of the centerthereof, a cartridge movable axially and laterally in said enlargedinterior and engageable alternately with said respective shoulders, anda tongue pivoted to said button between the furcations thereof andswingable between the furcations of said sleeve, said tongue beingformed with two shoulders each laterally offset from and on either sideof the pivotal axis of said tongue to alternately engage with saidcartridgeV upon sliding movement of said button to effect lateralshifting of said cartridge into engagement with respective shoulders.

2. The combination according to claim l, wherein said button has facinggrooves in facing surfaces of the furcapivot includes a pin in saidbutton, extending between the furcations thereof, on which said tongueis mounted.

4. in a writing instrument, in combination, an elongatedsleeve providedat opposite ends with a first and a second opening communicating withits interior, a cartridge axially movable in said interior between anextended and a retracted position, said cartridge having a writing pointprojecting from said first opening in said extended position, resilientmeans urging said cartridge into said retracted position, a buttonnon-rotatably held in said second opening for axial displacementrelative to said sleeve, and a tongue pivoted to said button, saidsleeve being provided in its interior with two axially spaced shoulderson opposite sides of said tongue, said cartridge terminating oppositesaid writing point in a catch laterally displaceable for engagement witheither of said shoulders whereby said cartridge occupies either saidextended or said retracted position, said tongue having formationslaterally offset from its pivot on either side thereof and alternatelyengageable with said catch, upon inward dis` 2,863,421 5 6 placement ofsaid button against the action of said resilient References Cited' inthe le of this patent means, whereby engagement of a formation on oneside of the pivot to exert a force on said catch for movement UNITEDSTATES PATENTS away from said pivot effecting dislodgement of said catch2,557,054 MalSheIl 511116 12, 1951 from the shoulder engaged thereby,said tongue and said 5 2,584,569 Frerlzel Feb. 5, 1952 resilient meansbeing jointly effective to move said catch 2,693,170 Sears Nov. 2, 1954sideways toward the other shoulder for engagement there- 2,734,484OSullivan Feb. 14, 1956 With upon subsequent release of said button.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said FOREIGN PATENTSbutton is bifurcated, said tongue being pivoted to said 10 1,000,555France Oct. 17, 1951 button between the furcations thereof. 302,574Switzerland Jan. 3, 1955

